Mud flaps for automobile fenders

Abstract

A mud flap for a fender of a vehicle having a web integral with an upwardly extending projection for securing the mud flap to a fender. A reinforcing metallic element is provided on the projection for mounting the mud flap on the fender so that it depends therefrom vertically regardless of the curvature of the fender. The reinforcing element is bent relative to the plane of the mud flap to position the mud flap on the fender so that it depends vertically. The reinforcing element or a pair of jaws or clamps may be used to secure the mud flap to a fender or car body.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 
     
       1. A mud flap for a fender of a vehicle, comprising: a flange portion having an elongate outline generally conformable to an edge area of a vehicle's fender; a web portion integral with said flange portion; both of said portions having two surfaces generally parallel to one another;   a counter-flange secured to one of said portions and extending along an edge of one of said surfaces, defining an angle between the flange portion and the counter-flange, when not held to a fender, to match an inclination of the edge area of the fender from a vertical surface, for holding said portions to the fender and for keeping the web portion approximately vertical not-withstanding such inclination of the edge area; and   fastening means secured to one of said portions and to the counter-flange for enabling said portions and said counter-flange to be secured to the edge area of the fender.   
     
     
       2. A mud flap according to claim 1 in which said fastening means comprise bolt means for connecting the counter-flange to one of said portions to clamp both portions, by the counter-flange, to the edge area of the fender. 
     
     
       3. A mud flap according to claim 2 in which said fastening means comprise bolt means extending through one of said portions and the counter-flange. 
     
     
       4. A mud flap according to claim 3 wherein said bolt means comprise a pair of bolts adjacent one another. 
     
     
       5. A mud flap for a fender of a vehicle, comprising; a flange portion having an elongate outline generally conformable to an edge portion of a vehicle's fender; a web portion depending from said flange portion; said portions having two surfaces generally parallel to one another;   counter-flange means secured to said flange portion and extending along said elongate outline thereof, adjacent one of said surfaces of said flange portion, defining an angle between the flange portion and the counter-flange means, when not held to a fender, to match an inclination of the edge portion of the fender from a vertical surface for holding the flange portion to the fender and for keeping the depending web portion approximately vertical not-withstanding such inclination of the edge portion and of the flange portion secured thereto; and   fastening means secured to the other surface of said flange portion for enabling said flange portion to be secured to a rim on the fender edge portion, comprising at least one pair of jaws extending from and transversely of said other surface, and means for engaging said jaws with the rim on the fender edge portion; whereby said web portion can be readily firmly secured to vehicle fenders with and without a rim, to intercept ejected mud and the like during travel of the vehicle.   
     
     
       6. A mud flap according to claim 5 including connecting fastener means approximately equally spaced from ends of said elongate counter-flange means for connecting the counter-flange means to said flange portion and for clamping a fender edge portion therebetween. 
     
     
       7. A mud flap according to claim 6 in which said connecting fastener means includes bolt means extending through the flange portion and the counter-flange means. 
     
     
       8. A mud flap according to claim 7 wherein said bolt means comprises a pair of bolts adjacent one another. 
     
     
       9. A mud flap according to claim 5 in which said fastening means includes base means defining a U-shaped cross-section with said jaws, and screw means threaded into one of the jaws for clamping a rim on said fender edge portion to the other jaw.